10 teachers for 1,000 students at girls school in Shergarh

Insiders say students from grades six, seven have to sit on floor

PESHAWAR/ MARDAN:

Like most schools across the province, the student-teacher ratio at Government Girls High School (GGHS) in Shergarh union council of Takht Bhai, Mardan is abysmal.

An insider familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune over the telephone there were only 10 teachers at the school, which has enrolled around 1,000 students.

Like sardines

The school’s woes do not end there. The high school’s building is in a state of disrepair and it is often difficult to accommodate students in classrooms.

“There are between 100 and 150 students in a classroom,” the insider said. “Most students from class six and seven sit on the floor.”

More often than not, teachers find it difficult to control the vast number of students on the premises. The school’s principal has repeatedly taken up the matter with the DEO and requested the relevant authorities to hire new teachers and provide facilities for girls. However, his demands have fallen on deaf ears.

Many students at the institute are finding it difficult to navigate in a school environment that is crowded beyond capacity and is in desperate need of overhaul.

A student of class six, requesting anonymity, said one class usually comprises 130 students.

“There are so many students that the first lesson of the day is spent taking attendance,” she said. “The number of students in a classroom disrupts the learning experience. The worst part is there is no furniture in some classrooms. Most students have no option but to sit on a floor that has cracks. It isn’t a pleasant experience.”

Parents and guardians have also voiced concerns about the quality of education their children are receiving at the institute.

Kamaluddin, whose daughters study at the school, told The Express Tribune problems continue to affect the school on a daily basis.

“A majority of people from Shergarh are poor and cannot afford to send their children to private schools,” he said. “That’s why our children go to government schools.” Kamaluddin said, “At this stage, we need a new high school as GGHS is not in a strong position to carve a bright future for our children.”

What went wrong?

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Yousaf Khan, the former nazim of Shergarh UC, said considerable changes have been made to the school over the last 10 years.

“The institute was established for a small number of students,” he said. “However, the number of students has increased at a phenomenal rate. I strongly urge the government to revamp this school and make space for the 1,000 girls who now study there.”

Khalid Shah, the village councillor of Shergarh, said the school needs more teachers, furniture and extra rooms.

“This is the only high school for girls in the union council,” he said.

When contacted, MPA Jamshid Mohmand said he raised the matter at the recent meeting of K-P Assembly Standing Committee on Education and the department assured him new teachers would be hired.

“They will be appointed through the National Testing Service (NTS),” he said. “Three teachers will be appointed immediately.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.